Wheels, an Australian automotive magazine, believes Mitsubishi Australia is aiming for the EK X all-electric Kei-car. However, it should show that the Australian market is suitable for such a car.
If the market is interested, Mitsubishi’s local branch may consider introducing the EK X EV to Australia, Wheels reported.
The EK X electric vehicle
According to Wheels, the EV was released in the company’s home country of Japan last year for ¥2,398,000 (about AU$26,500), entering the local Kei-car series with “more of an SUV taste.”
Wheels reported that EK X EV’s specifications are the following:
- Driving range – 180km
- Battery capacity – 20kWh
- Power – 47kW
- Torque – 195Nm
- Weight – 1080 kilograms
- Charging time – full capacity in 8 hours using regular charging (AC200V/14.5A) or around 40 minutes to 80% through quick charging
- Has two-way vehicle-to-load power.
Is EK X EV suitable for Australia?
But given how much Australians love large SUVs and utes, is the miniature Outlander copycat ever going to get there? According to Wheels, Shaun Westcott, CEO of Mitsubishi Australia, thinks so but under appropriate circumstances.
Westcott added that one of Mitsubishi Australia’s considerations is the local EV market. The company’s turbulent past also influences it, Wheels reported.
In an interview with Wheels, Shaun Westcott said, “[EK X] is one of those where we’re always looking at new opportunities.” He added, “We have to ask, is it relevant? Could this work in Australia? But definitely, one thing I’ve noticed at Mitsubishi is Japan takes our media’s feedback quite seriously, so watch this space.”
Mitsubishi Australia’s past
Wheels reported that Mitsubishi Australia did not have a good experience selling a fully-electric vehicle to the Australian car market. According to Wheels, the i-Miev hatchback was its first (and only since) electric vehicle to be offered in Australia. It debuted in the country in 2009, one year after being on sale in Japan. However, it wasn’t genuinely accessible to the general public until 2011, and by 2013, it was gone.
We lost lots of money [on i-Miev] because Australia wasn’t ready for it.” He added, “It may be, to be frank, burnt our fingers because we brought the technology to the market 15 years too soon. We were way ahead of our time, but it cost us a lot of money. Hence all the recent conversations about EVs and PHEVs – are we ready?
Shaun Westcott, CEO of Mitsubishi Australia
Mitsubishi Australia recently unveiled its plans to release 35 electric vehicles by 2030 over five new platforms. It also claims that the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance has access to a variety of electric cars.
Westcott said in an interview with Wheels, “We have, through our alliance and through our own networks, access to a wide variety of cars. Not all of them will work in Australia. Not all of them appeal to Australians. We have access to a whole suite of French cars – they’re the top-selling cars in Europe, but they’re not the top-selling cars in Australia.”
He added, “As the CEO of Australia, I have to look at what does Australia need? What does Australia want? It’s like opening drawers on a filing cabinet. We can get them, but do we need them and do we want them, and will our customers buy them?”
